LADA Diabetes Misdiagnosed as Type 2

LinMay
Sun, 30 Jul 2023 13:54:05 +0000
My Story

Hi!

I was diagnosed with diabetes almost a decade ago. I was 31 years old. I got the classic symptoms of being really thirsty and peeing a lot. I didn’t feel well. I had lost weight and was feeling good about that, though. However, my blood sugar was really high. I went to the doctor, and she prescribed Metformin. I went on a low-carb diet, and the Metformin worked ok for a while, but my numbers never were that great. Then the Metformin stopped working, and I was prescribed other oral medications, which didn’t work. Then I saw an endocrinologist who did autoantibody and C-peptide tests and diagnosed me as LADA, to be treated as Type 1, with insulin.

Insulin really worked well. First, just once a day, then also mealtime insulin. I did MDI for several years, then decided to try an insulin pump. I started on the Medtronic 670G and will upgrade to the Medtronic 780G. I am very proud to have learned how to use an insulin pump. I was initially scared about it, but it’s been a great choice.

I learned that my experience is not rare. It’s estimated that up to 20% of people diagnosed with Type 2 may have LADA, also called Type 1.5. Some consider it a subtype of Type 1. It’s a gradual slow-onset form of diabetes caused by an autoimmune condition. I’ve just completed writing a book about LADA diabetes called “Success with LADA Diabetes: Achieving Optimal Health with Diet, Exercise, and Insulin.” I hope that my experience will help others with similar journeys. It can be really frustrating to not get the correct treatment.

Happy to be part of this community!

25 posts - 16 participants